Potted pipe fitting systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Techniques for implementing a pipeline system including a pipe segment and a potted pipe fitting. The pipe segment includes tubing having an internal pressure sheath layer, a reinforcement strip, and an outer sheath layer. The potted pipe fitting includes an outer fitting body disposed around a portion of the reinforcement strip, an inner fitting body disposed between the portion of the reinforcement strip and the internal pressure sheath layer, in which the inner fitting body directly abuts the internal pressure sheath layer at least up to a point where the reinforcement strip begins to flare away from the internal pressure sheath layer and a potting cavity of the potted pipe fitting is defined at least between an inner surface of the outer fitting body and an outer surface of the inner fitting body, and cured potting material implemented around the portion of the reinforcement strip in the potting cavity.

CROSS-REFERENCE

The present disclosure claims priority to and benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/939,386, entitled “POTTED ENDFITTING FOR FLEXIBLE PIPE AND METHODS OF INSTALLING SAME” and filed Nov.22, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety forall purposes.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to pipeline systems and, moreparticularly, to a pipe fitting that may be deployed in a pipelinesystem.

Pipeline systems are often implemented and/or operated to facilitatetransporting (e.g., conveying) fluid, such as liquid and/or gas, from afluid source to a fluid destination. For example, a pipeline system maybe used to transport one or more hydrocarbons, such as crude oil,petroleum, natural gas, or any combination thereof. Additionally oralternatively, a pipeline system may be used to transport one or moreother types of fluid, such as produced water, fresh water, fracturingfluid, flowback fluid, carbon dioxide, or any combination thereof.

To facilitate transporting fluid, a pipeline system may include one ormore pipe segments in addition to one or more pipe (e.g., midline and/orend) fittings (e.g., connectors), for example, which are used to couplea pipe segment to another pipeline component, such as another pipefitting, another pipe segment, a fluid source, and/or a fluiddestination. Generally, a pipe segment includes tubing, which defines(e.g., encloses) a pipe bore that provides a primary fluid conveyance(e.g., flow) path through the pipe segment. More specifically, thetubing of a pipe segment may be implemented to facilitate isolating(e.g., insulating) fluid being conveyed within its pipe bore fromenvironmental conditions external to the pipe segment, for example, toreduce the likelihood of the conveyed (e.g., bore) fluid being lost tothe external environmental conditions and/or the external environmentalconditions contaminating the conveyed fluid (e.g., clean and/or potablewater).

To facilitate improving fluid isolation, in some instances, the tubingof a pipe segment may include multiple layers. For example, the tubingof a pipe segment may include an internal pressure sheath layer and anouter sheath layer that each run (e.g., span) the length of the pipesegment. To facilitate improving its collapse (e.g., crush) resistance,in some instances, the pipe segment tubing may additionally include acarcass layer disposed within its internal pressure sheath layer.Additionally, the pipe segment tubing may include one or moreintermediate layers disposed between its internal pressure sheath layerand its outer sheath layer. For example, to facilitate improving itstensile strength and/or its the hoop strength, the one or moreintermediate layers of pipe segment tubing may include a reinforcementlayer, which is made from a solid material that has a higher tensilestrength and/or a higher linear elasticity modulus (e.g., stiffness)than the solid material that is used to fabricate the inner barrierlayer and/or the outer barrier layer of the pipe segment tubing.

In any case, as described above, the tubing of a pipe segment maygenerally be secured and sealed in a pipe fitting. Generally, a pipefitting may include a fitting body that defines a fitting bore in whichthe internal pressure sheath layer and the carcass layer of the pipesegment tubing are to be disposed. To facilitate securing the pipefitting to pipe segment tubing, the fitting body of the pipe fitting mayadditionally define a potting cavity in which reinforcement strips fromone or more intermediate (e.g., reinforcement) layers of the pipesegment tubing are to be anchored (e.g., secured).

Generally, the fitting body of a pipe fitting may be implemented todirectly abut and, thus, reinforce a portion of the internal pressuresheath layer of a pipe segment. Additionally, a reinforcement strip in apipe segment may generally reinforce the internal pressure sheath layerof the pipe segment when the reinforcement strip is disposed between theinternal pressure sheath layer and the outer sheath layer of the pipesegment at a target lay angle. However, when anchored in a pottingcavity of a pipe fitting, a portion of a reinforcement strip in a pipesegment may be flared away from the internal pressure sheath layer ofthe pipe segment. In other words, in some instances, a gap betweenreinforcement provided by the pipe fitting and reinforcement provided bya reinforcement strip of a corresponding pipe segment may potentiallyresult in a weak point developing in the pipe fitting, which, at leastin some instances, may reduce operational efficiency and/or operationalreliability of a pipeline system in which the pipe fitting is deployed,for example, due to fluid pressure within the pipe bore of the pipesegment inadvertently producing a breach (e.g., hole or opening) throughthe weak point in the pipe fitting.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that arefurther described below in the detailed description. This summary is notintended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope ofthe claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment, a pipeline system includes a pipe segment and apotted pipe fitting. The pipe segment includes tubing having an internalpressure sheath layer that defines a pipe bore, a reinforcement stripimplemented around the internal pressure sheath layer to define a fluidconduit within a tubing annulus of the pipe segment, and an outer sheathlayer implemented around the reinforcement strip. The potted pipefitting includes an outer fitting body disposed around a portion of thereinforcement strip in the pipe segment, an inner fitting body disposedbetween the portion of the reinforcement strip and the internal pressuresheath layer of the pipe segment, in which the inner fitting bodydirectly abuts the internal pressure sheath layer at least up to a pointwhere the reinforcement strip begins to flare away from the internalpressure sheath layer and a potting cavity of the potted pipe fitting isdefined at least between an inner surface of the outer fitting body andan outer surface of the inner fitting body, and cured potting materialimplemented around the portion of the reinforcement strip in the pottingcavity to secure the potted pipe fitting to the pipe segment.

In another embodiment, a method of implementing a pipe fitting at pipesegment tubing includes disposing an outer fitting body of the pipefitting around the pipe segment tubing, cutting back an outer sheathlayer of the pipe segment tubing to expose a portion of a reinforcementstrip in the pipe segment tubing, inserting an inner fitting body of thepipe fitting between the portion of the reinforcement strip and aninternal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segment tubing such that theinner fitting body directly abuts the internal pressure sheath layer atleast up to a point where the reinforcement strip begins to flare awayfrom the internal pressure sheath layer, defining a potting cavity ofthe pipe fitting at least in part by sliding the outer fitting body ofthe pipe fitting over the portion of the reinforcement strip in the pipesegment tubing and the inner fitting body of the pipe fitting, anddisposing potting material around the portion of the reinforcement stripin the potting cavity of the pipe fitting to facilitate securing thepipe fitting to the pipe segment tubing.

In another embodiment, a pipe fitting includes an outer fitting bodyhaving a conical inner surface, in which the outer fitting body is to bedisposed around an exposed portion of a reinforcement strip in pipesegment tubing, an inner fitting body having a conical outer surface, inwhich the inner fitting body is to be disposed between the exposedportion of the reinforcement strip and an internal pressure sheath layerof the pipe segment tubing, and a fitting connector that enables thepipe fitting to be connected to another pipeline component. The outerfitting body and the inner fitting body are to be secured to the fittingconnector to define a potting cavity in which the exposed portion of thereinforcement strip is to be anchored between the conical inner surfaceof the outer fitting body and the conical outer surface of the innerfitting body such that the potting cavity has a continuous uniformwedge-shaped axial cross-section profile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a pipeline system includingpipe segments and pipe fittings, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an example of a pipe segment of FIG. 1 thatincludes a pipe bore defined by its tubing as well as fluid conduitsimplemented within an annulus of its tubing, in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an example of a portion of the pipe segment of FIG. 2 with ahelically shaped fluid conduit implemented within the annulus of itstubing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an axial cross-section profile of an example of a pipe segmentthat includes a carcass layer, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 is axial cross-section profile of a portion of a pipeline systemthat includes the pipe segment of FIG. 4 and an example of a potted pipefitting, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an axial cross-section profile of a portion of a pipelinesystem that includes the pipe segment of FIG. 4 and another example of apotted pipe fitting, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is an axial cross-section profile of a portion of a pipelinesystem that includes the pipe segment of FIG. 4 and a further example ofa potted pipe fitting, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an example of a process for implementing apotted pipe fitting, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed below with reference to the figures. As used herein, the term“coupled” or “coupled to” may indicate establishing either a direct orindirect connection and, thus, is not limited to either unless expresslyreferenced as such. The term “set” may refer to one or more items.Wherever possible, like or identical reference numerals are used in thefigures to identify common or the same features. The figures are notnecessarily to scale. In particular, certain features and/or certainviews of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale for purposes ofclarification. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the depictedexamples are merely intended to be illustrative and not limiting

The present disclosure generally relates to pipeline systems that may beimplemented and/or operated to transport (e.g., convey) fluid, such asliquid and/or gas, from a fluid source to a fluid destination.Generally, a pipeline system may include pipe fittings, such as amidline pipe fitting and/or a pipe end fitting, and one or more pipesegments. More specifically, a pipe segment may generally be secured andsealed in one or more pipe fittings to facilitate fluidly coupling thepipe segment to another pipeline component, such as another pipesegment, another pipe fitting, a fluid source, and/or a fluiddestination. Merely as an illustrative non-limiting example, a pipelinesystem may include a first pipe end fitting secured to a first pipesegment to facilitate fluidly coupling the first pipe segment to thefluid source, a midline pipe fitting secured between the first pipesegment and a second pipe segment to facilitate fluidly coupling thefirst pipe segment to the second pipe segment, and a second pipe endfitting secured to the second pipe segment to facilitate fluidlycoupling the second pipe segment to the fluid destination.

In any case, a pipe segment generally includes tubing that defines(e.g., encloses) a pipe bore, which provides a primary fluid conveyance(e.g., flow) path through the pipe segment. More specifically, thetubing of a pipe segment may be implemented to facilitate isolatingenvironmental conditions external to the pipe segment from conditionswithin its pipe bore and, thus, fluid that flows therethrough. Inparticular, the tubing of a pipe segment may primarily be implemented toblock fluid flow directly between the pipe bore of the pipe segment andits external environmental conditions, for example, in addition toproviding thermal, pressure, and/or electrical isolation (e.g.,insulation).

To facilitate improving fluid isolation, in some instances, the tubingof a pipe segment may be implemented with multiple tubing layers. Forexample, the tubing of a pipe segment may include an internal pressuresheath (e.g., inner barrier) layer and an outer sheath (e.g., outerbarrier) layer that are each implemented to run (e.g., span) the lengthof the pipe segment. In particular, the internal pressure sheath layerand the outer sheath layer may each be implemented as a continuous layerof solid material, such as plastic, that runs the length of the pipesegment.

In some instances, the tubing of a pipe segment may additionally includeone or more intermediate layers implemented between its internalpressure sheath layer and its outer sheath layer and, thus, in a tubingannulus of the pipe segment. In particular, to facilitate improving itstensile strength and/or its hoop strength, in some instances, theintermediate layers of pipe segment tubing may include one or morereinforcement (e.g., pressure armor and/or tensile armor) layers, whicheach has one or more solid (e.g., reinforcement) strips that areimplemented at a target lay angle with material that has a highertensile strength and/or a higher linear elasticity modulus (e.g.,stiffness) than material that is used to implement the internal pressuresheath layer and/or the outer sheath layer of the pipe segment tubing.For example, a reinforcement strip may be implemented using metal, suchas steel, while the internal pressure sheath layer and the outer sheathlayer of the pipe segment tubing are implemented using plastic, such ashigh-density polyethylene (HDPE). Additionally or alternatively, theintermediate layers of pipe segment tubing may include one or more tapelayers, one or more intermediate sheath layers, one or more anti-wearlayers, one or more insulation layers, or any combination thereof

Furthermore, in some instances, a pipe segment may be deployed in anelevated pressure environment, for example, underwater in a subseaapplication. To facilitate improving its collapse and/or crushresistance, in some instances, the tubing of the pipe segment mayadditionally include a carcass layer implemented within its internalpressure sheath layer. In other words, in such instances, the internalpressure sheath layer may be implemented around the carcass layer and,thus, the carcass layer may be the innermost layer of the pipe segmenttubing.

In any case, as described above, the tubing of a pipe segment maygenerally be secured and sealed in a pipe fitting. To facilitatesecuring pipe segment tubing therein, a pipe fitting may include afitting body that defines a fitting bore in which the internal pressuresheath layer and the carcass layer of the pipe segment tubing are to bedisposed. However, in some instances, the pipe segment tubing maypotentially pull out (e.g., separate) from the fitting bore of the pipefitting. As such, to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to pipesegment tubing, the fitting body of the pipe fitting may additionallydefine a potting cavity in which reinforcement strips from one or moreintermediate (e.g., reinforcement) layers of the pipe segment tubing areto be anchored (e.g., secured). In other words, the fitting body maydefine the potting cavity circumferentially (e.g., concentrically)around the fitting bore and cured potting material, such as epoxy, maybe implemented around a portion of a reinforcement strip that isdisposed within the potting cavity to facilitate securing the tubing ofa corresponding pipe segment to the fitting body.

Generally, the fitting body of a pipe fitting may be implemented todirectly abut and, thus, reinforce a portion of the internal pressuresheath layer of a pipe segment. Additionally, as described above, areinforcement strip in a pipe segment may generally reinforce theinternal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segment when thereinforcement strip is disposed between the internal pressure sheathlayer and the outer sheath layer of the pipe segment at a target layangle. However, when anchored in a potting cavity of a pipe fitting, aportion of a reinforcement strip in a pipe segment may be flared awayfrom the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segment. In otherwords, in some instances, a gap between reinforcement provided by thepipe fitting and reinforcement provided by a reinforcement strip of acorresponding pipe segment may potentially result in a weak pointdeveloping in the pipe fitting, which, at least in some instances, mayreduce operational efficiency and/or operational reliability of apipeline system in which the pipe fitting is deployed, for example, dueto fluid pressure within the pipe bore of the pipe segment inadvertentlyproducing a breach (e.g., hole or opening) through the weak point in thepipe fitting.

Accordingly, to facilitate improving pipeline operational efficiencyand/or pipeline operational reliability, the present disclosure providestechniques for implementing and/or deploying a pipe fitting—namely apotted pipe fitting—that improves the reinforcement the potted pipefitting provides to the tubing of a pipe segment that is secured andsealed therein. As will be described in more detail below, the fittingbody of a potted pipe fitting may generally include an inner fittingbody, an outer fitting body, and a fitting body collar. In particular,the inner fitting body may be implemented to be disposed between theinternal pressure sheath layer and one or more reinforcement strips ofthe tubing of a pipe segment while the outer fitting body may beimplemented to be disposed around the one or more reinforcement stripsof the pipe segment tubing.

To facilitate connecting another pipeline component thereto, the pottedpipe fitting may additionally include a fitting connector (e.g., flange)that is implemented to be secured to its outer fitting body and itsinner fitting body, for example, via one or more threaded fasteners,such as a bolt or a screw. In particular, in some embodiments, the outerfitting body may be implemented to overlap with the inner fitting bodyand a portion of the fitting connector such that the potting cavity ofthe potted pipe fitting is defined therebetween. In other words, in suchembodiments, a first portion of the potting cavity may be definedbetween an inner surface of the outer fitting body and an outer surfaceof the portion of the fitting connector and a second portion of thepotting cavity may be defined between the inner surface of the outerfitting body and an outer surface of the inner fitting body.

However, to facilitate easing securement of a fitting connector to acorresponding inner fitting body and/or to facilitate reducing overallsize (e.g., footprint) of a potted pipe fitting, in other embodiments,the outer fitting body of the potted pipe fitting may be implemented tooverlap with the inner fitting body, but not the fitting connector. Inother words, in such embodiments, the potting cavity of the potted pipefitting may be defined just between the inner surface of the outerfitting body and the outer surface of the inner fitting body. In fact,to facilitate further easing securement of a fitting connector to aninner fitting body, in some embodiments, a fastener opening in the innerfitting body may be implemented on a lip (e.g., extension) that extendsradially out toward a corresponding outer fitting body.

In any case, to facilitate sealing pipe segment tubing therein, a pottedpipe fitting may additionally include one or more fitting seals. Inparticular, in some embodiments, the potted pipe fitting may include aninner fitting seal, which is implemented to be compressed between itsinner fitting body, its fitting connector, and the internal pressuresheath layer of pipe segment tubing. Additionally, the potted pipefitting may include an outer fitting seal, which is implemented to becompressed between its outer fitting body, its fitting body collar, andthe outer sheath layer of pipe segment tubing.

Thus, to facilitate sealing and securing pipe segment tubing in a pottedpipe fitting, the fitting body collar, the outer fitting seal, and theouter fitting body of the potted pipe fitting may be disposed (e.g.,slid) around the pipe segment tubing. Additionally, the outer sheathlayer of the pipe segment tubing may be cut back to expose a portion ofone or more reinforcement strips in the pipe segment tubing. In someembodiments, a reinforcement strip in pipe segment tubing may beimplemented at a target lay angle relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe pipe segment tubing to facilitate optimizing (e.g., balancing) thereinforcement (e.g., tensile strength and/or the hoop strength) providedby the reinforcement strip. In fact, in some embodiments, reinforcementstrips in different reinforcement (e.g., intermediate) layers of pipesegment tubing may have different target lay angles, for example, toenable a corresponding reinforcement layer to act as a pressure armorlayer, a tensile armor layer, or both.

However, as described above, the outer fitting seal of the potted pipefitting may be activated by compressing the outer fitting seal againstthe outer sheath layer of pipe segment tubing. Additionally, asdescribed above, in some embodiments, the outer sheath layer of pipesegment tubing may be implemented using plastic, such as high-densitypolyethylene (HDPE), which may be relatively easy to deform. Thus, tofacilitate separating (e.g., isolating) the sealing function provided bythe outer fitting seal from the reinforcement function provided by areinforcement layer (e.g., one or more reinforcement strips) of the pipesegment tubing, in some embodiments, a rigid reinforcement sleeve may beinserted and secured between a (e.g., non-cutback) portion of the outersheath layer and a corresponding portion of the reinforcement layer.

In any case, the inner fitting body of the potted pipe fitting may thenbe disposed (e.g., inserted) between the internal pressure sheath layerand one or more reinforcement strips of the pipe segment tubing. Inparticular, to facilitate supporting the pipe segment tubing using thepotted pipe fitting, in some embodiments, the inner fitting body of thepotted pipe fitting may be implemented to be inserted under areinforcement layer of a pipe segment at least up to a point where oneor more reinforcement strips of the pipe segment begin to flare awayfrom the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segment. Forexample, in such embodiments, the inner fitting body may be implementedto be inserted at least up to a point where the outer sheath layer iscutback and/or the beginning of a rigid reinforcement sleeve (e.g., andpotentially overlapping with a remaining portion of the outer sheathlayer and/or a portion of the rigid reinforcement sleeve). However, inother embodiments, a potted pipe fitting may support the tubing of apipe segment via a separate spacer ring, which is implemented to besecured around the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segmenttubing between an end of its inner fitting body and one or morereinforcement strips of the pipe segment tubing, for example, to enablethe spacer ring to provide electrical continuity (e.g., and, thus,cathodic protection) to the one or more reinforcement strips.

In any case, the outer fitting body of the potted pipe fitting may thenbe slid over the exposed portion of the reinforcement layer (e.g., oneor more reinforcement strips) to define the potting cavity of the pottedpipe fitting. In particular, in some embodiments, a potted pipe fittingmay be implemented with a potting cavity that has a non-uniform axialcross-section profile (e.g., shape). For example, in some suchembodiments, a first portion of the potting cavity, which is fartherfrom the outer sheath layer of a corresponding pipe segment, may beimplemented with a wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile, while asecond portion of the potting cavity, which is closer to the outersheath layer of the pipe segment, may be implemented with a differentaxial cross-section profile, such as another wedge-shaped axialcross-section profile. However, a potting cavity with a non-uniformaxial cross-section profile may result in force non-uniformly beingdistributed across the potting cavity and, thus, stress concentrationzones developing within the potting cavity, which, at least in someinstances, may limit anchoring strength provided by cured pottingmaterial in the potting cavity, for example, due to the non-uniformforce distribution causing different portions of the cured pottingmaterial to break at substantially different times.

Accordingly, to facilitate improving the strength with which pipesegment tubing can be secured (e.g., anchored) in a potted pipe fitting,in other embodiments, the potted pipe fitting may be implemented with apotting cavity that has a continuous (e.g., single) uniform axialcross-section profile (e.g., shape). For example, in some suchembodiments, the potting cavity of a potted pipe fitting may beimplemented with a continuous uniform wedge-shaped axial cross-sectionprofile. To facilitate defining a potting cavity with a continuousuniform wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile, in some embodiments,the outer fitting body of a potted pipe fitting may be implemented witha conical inner surface while the inner fitting body of the potted pipefitting may be implemented with a conical outer surface, which isslanted at a different angle as compared to the conical inner surface ofthe outer fitting body.

In any case, fluid (e.g., liquid) potting material, such as epoxy, maythen be flowed into the potting cavity of the potted pipe fitting. Aftercuring (e.g., hardening and/or solidifying), a solid mass of curedpotting material may encase the portion of one or more reinforcementstrips present in the potting cavity and, thus, facilitate anchoring theone or more reinforcement strip in the potted pipe fitting.Additionally, the body collar of the potted pipe fitting may be securedto the outer fitting body, for example, to facilitate sealing the pipesegment tubing by compressing the outer fitting seal between the outerfitting body, the fitting body collar, and the outer sheath layer of thepipe segment tubing. In this manner, the present disclosure providestechniques for implementing and/or deploying a potted pipe fitting tofacilitate improving the reinforcement the potted pipe fitting providesto the tubing of a corresponding pipe segment, which, at least in someinstances, may facilitate improving pipeline operational efficiencyand/or pipeline operational reliability, for example, by reducing thelikelihood of fluid pressure within the pipe bore of the pipe segmentproducing a breach within the potted pipe fitting.

To help illustrate, an example of a pipeline system 10 is shown inFIG. 1. As in the depicted example, the pipeline system 10 may becoupled between a bore fluid source 12 and a bore fluid destination 14.Merely as an illustrative non-limiting example, the bore fluid source 12may be a production well and the bore fluid destination 14 may be afluid storage tank. In other instances, the bore fluid source 12 may bea first (e.g., lease facility) storage tank and the bore fluiddestination 14 may be a second (e.g., refinery) storage tank.

In any case, the pipeline system 10 may generally facilitatetransporting (e.g., conveying) fluid, such as gas and/or liquid, fromthe bore fluid source 12 to the bore fluid destination 14. In fact, insome embodiments, the pipeline system 10 may be used in manyapplications, including without limitation, both onshore and offshoreoil and gas applications. For example, in such embodiments, the pipelinesystem 10 may be used to transport one or more hydrocarbons, such ascrude oil, petroleum, natural gas, or any combination thereof.Additionally or alternatively, the pipeline system 10 may be used totransport one or more other types of fluid, such as produced water,fresh water, fracturing fluid, flowback fluid, carbon dioxide, or anycombination thereof.

To facilitate flowing fluid to the bore fluid destination 14, in someembodiments, the bore fluid source 12 may include one or more bore fluidpumps 16 that inject (e.g., pump and/or supply) fluid from the borefluid source 12 into a bore of the pipeline system 10. However, itshould be appreciated that the depicted example is merely intended to beillustrative and not limiting. In particular, in other embodiments, oneor more bore fluid pumps 16 may not be at the bore fluid source 12, forexample, when fluid flow through the bore of the pipeline system 10 isproduced by gravity. Additionally or alternatively, in otherembodiments, one or more bore fluid pumps 16 may be in the pipelinesystem 10 and/or at the bore fluid destination 14.

To facilitate transporting fluid from the bore fluid source 12 to thebore fluid destination 14, as in the depicted example, a pipeline system10 may include one or more pipe fittings 18 and one or more pipesegments 20. For example, the depicted pipeline system 10 includes afirst pipe segment 20A, a second pipe segment 20B, and an Nth pipesegment 20N. Additionally, the depicted pipeline system 10 includes afirst pipe (e.g., end) fitting 18A, which couples the bore fluid source12 to the first pipe segment 20A, a second pipe (e.g., midline) fitting18B, which couples the first pipe segment 20A to the second pipe segment20B, and an Nth pipe (e.g., end) fitting 18N, which couples the Nth pipesegment 20N to the bore fluid destination 14.

However, it should again be appreciated that the depicted example ismerely intended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, inother embodiments, a pipeline system 10 may include fewer than three(e.g., two or one) pipe segments 20 or more than three (e.g., four,five, or more) pipe segments 20. Additionally or alternatively, in otherembodiments, a pipeline system 10 may include fewer than four (e.g.,three or two) pipe fittings 18 or more than four (e.g., five, six, ormore) pipe fittings 18.

In any case, as described above, a pipe segment 20 generally includestubing that may be used to convey (e.g., transfer and/or transport)water, gas, oil, and/or any other suitable type of fluid. The tubing ofa pipe segment 20 may be made of any suitable type of material, such asplastic, metal, and/or a composite (e.g., fiber-reinforced composite)material. In fact, as will be described in more detail below, in someembodiments, the tubing of a pipe segment 20 may include multipledifferent tubing layers. For example, the tubing of a pipe segment 20may include a first high-density polyethylene (e.g., internal corrosionprotection) layer, one or more reinforcement (e.g., steel strip) layersexternal to the first high-density polyethylene layer, and a secondhigh-density polyethylene (e.g., external corrosion protection) layerexternal to the one or more reinforcement layers.

Additionally, as in the depicted example, one or more (e.g., secondand/or Nth) pipe segments 20 in a pipeline system 10 may be curved. Tofacilitate implementing a curve in a pipe segment 20, in someembodiments, the pipe segment 20 may be flexible, for example, such thatthe pipe segment 20 is spoolable on a reel and/or in a coil (e.g.,during transport and/or before deployment of the pipe segment 20). Inother words, in some embodiments, one or more pipe segments 20 in thepipeline system 10 may be a flexible pipe, such as a bonded flexiblepipe, an unbonded flexible pipe, a flexible composite pipe (FCP), athermoplastic composite pipe (TCP), or a reinforced thermoplastic pipe(RTP). In fact, at least in some instances, increasing flexibility of apipe segment 20 may facilitate improving deployment efficiency of apipeline system 10, for example, by obviating a curved (e.g., elbow)pipe fitting 18 and/or enabling the pipe segment 20 to be transported tothe pipeline system 10, deployed in the pipeline system 10, or bothusing a tighter spool.

To facilitate improving pipe flexibility, in some embodiments, thetubing of a pipe segment 20 that defines (e.g., encloses) its pipe boremay additionally define free space (e.g., one or more gaps) devoid ofsolid material in its annulus. In fact, in some embodiments, the freespace in the tubing annulus of a pipe segment 20 may run (e.g., span)the length of the pipe segment 20 and, thus, define (e.g., enclose) oneor more fluid conduits in the annulus of the tubing, which are separatefrom the pipe bore. In other words, in such embodiments, fluid may flowthrough a pipe segment 20 via its pipe bore, a fluid conduit definedwithin its tubing annulus, or both.

To help illustrate, an example of a pipe segment 20, which includestubing 22 with annular gaps (e.g., fluid conduits and/or free space) 24defined in its annulus 25, is shown in FIG. 2. As depicted, the pipesegment tubing 22 has multiple tubing layers including an internalpressure sheath (e.g., inner barrier) layer 26 and an outer sheath(e.g., outer barrier) layer 28. In some embodiments, the internalpressure sheath layer 26 and/or the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipesegment tubing 22 may be made using composite material and/or plastic,such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), raised temperaturepolyethylene (PE-RT), cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), polyamide 11(PA-11), polyamide 12 (PA-12), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), or anycombination thereof. Although a number of particular layers aredepicted, it should be understood that the techniques described in thepresent disclosure may be broadly applicable to composite pipe bodystructures including two or more layers, for example, as distinguishedfrom a rubber or plastic single-layer hose subject to vulcanization. Inany case, as depicted, an inner surface 30 of the internal pressuresheath layer 26 defines (e.g., encloses) a pipe bore 32 through whichfluid can flow, for example, to facilitate transporting fluid from abore fluid source 12 to a bore fluid destination 14.

Additionally, as depicted, the tubing annulus 25 of the pipe segment 20is implemented between its internal pressure sheath layer 26 and itsouter sheath layer 28. As will be described in more detail below, thetubing annulus 25 of a pipe segment 20 may include one or moreintermediate layers. Furthermore, as depicted, annular gaps 24 runningalong the length of the pipe segment 20 are defined (e.g., enclosed) inthe tubing annulus 25. As described above, an annular gap 24 in thetubing annulus 25 may be devoid of solid material. As such, pipe segmenttubing 22 that includes one or more annular gaps 24 defined therein mayexert less resistance to flexure, for example, as compared to solid pipesegment tubing 22 and/or pipe segment tubing 22 that does not includeannular gaps 24 defined its annulus 25. Moreover, to facilitate furtherimproving pipe flexibility, in some embodiments, one or more layers inthe tubing 22 of a pipe segment 20 may be unbonded from one or moreother layers in the tubing 22 and, thus, the pipe segment 20 may be anunbonded pipe.

However, it should be appreciated that the depicted example is merelyintended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, in otherembodiments, a pipe segment 20 may include fewer than two (e.g., one) ormore than two (e.g., three, four, or more) annular gaps 24 defined inits tubing annulus 25. Additionally or alternatively, in otherembodiments, an annular gap 24 defined in the tubing annulus 25 of apipe segment 20 may run non-parallel to the pipe bore 32 of the pipesegment 20, for example, such that the annular gap 24 is skewed relativeto the longitudinal extent of the pipe bore 32.

To help illustrate, an example of a portion 36 of a pipe segment 20,which includes an internal pressure sheath layer 26 and an intermediatelayer—namely a reinforcement layer 34—included in the annulus 25 of itspipe segment tubing 22, is shown in FIG. 3. However, it should beappreciated that the depicted example is merely intended to beillustrative and not limiting. In particular, in other embodiments, theintermediate layers of pipe segment tubing 22 may additionally oralternatively include one or more tape layers, one or more insulationlayers one or more intermediate sheath layers, one or more anti-wearlayers, or any combination thereof.

In any case, as depicted, the reinforcement layer 34 includes areinforcement strip 40. To facilitate improving tensile strength and/orhoop strength of pipe segment tubing 22, in some embodiments, areinforcement strip 40 in the pipe segment tubing 22 may be made atleast in part using solid material that has a higher tensile strengthand/or a higher linear elasticity modulus (e.g., stiffness) than solidmaterial that is used to make the internal pressure sheath layer 26and/or the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing. Forexample, the internal pressure sheath layer 26 may be made usingplastic, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), while thereinforcement strip 40 is made using metal, such as carbon steel,stainless steel, duplex stainless steel, super duplex stainless steel,or any combination thereof. In other words, at least in some suchembodiments, a reinforcement strip 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22 maybe made using electrically conductive material, which, at least in someinstances, may enable communication of electrical (e.g., control and/orsensor) signals via the reinforcement strip 40. However, in otherembodiments, one or more reinforcement strips 40 of pipe segment tubing22 may additionally or alternatively be made at least in part using acomposite material.

Additionally, as depicted, the reinforcement strip 40 is helicallydisposed (e.g., wound and/or wrapped) on the internal pressure sheathlayer 26 such that gaps (e.g., openings) are left between adjacentwindings to define an annular gap (e.g., fluid conduit) 24. In otherwords, in some embodiments, the reinforcement layer 34 may be formed atleast in part by winding the reinforcement strip 40 around the internalpressure sheath layer 26 at a non-zero lay angle (e.g., fifty-twodegrees) relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe bore 32. Asdescribed above, a reinforcement strip 40 may generally have a targetlay angle that facilitates optimizing (e.g., balancing) the tensilestrength and the hoop strength provided by the reinforcement strip 40.In fact, in some embodiments, reinforcement strips 40 in differentreinforcement layers 34 of pipe segment tubing 22 may have differenttarget lay angles, for example, to enable a corresponding reinforcementlayer 34 to act as a pressure armor layer, a tensile armor layer, orboth. In any case, as depicted, the resulting annular gap 24 runshelically along the pipe segment 20, for example, such that the annulargap 24 is skewed fifty-two degrees relative to the longitudinal axis ofthe pipe bore 32.

However, it should again be appreciated that the depicted example ismerely intended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, insome embodiments, one or more other intermediate layers, such as ananti-wear layer, may be disposed between the internal pressure sheathlayer 26 and a reinforcement layer 34 of pipe segment tubing 22. Inother words, in some such embodiments, a reinforcement strip 40 of thereinforcement layer 34 may be disposed on another intermediate layer,for example, instead of directly on the internal pressure sheath layer26 of the pipe segment tubing 22. Moreover, in other embodiments, areinforcement layer 34 of pipe segment tubing 22 may include multiplereinforcement strips 40.

In any case, in some embodiments, an outer sheath layer 28 may bedisposed directly over the depicted reinforcement layer 34 and, thus,cover and/or define (e.g., enclose) the depicted annular gap 24.However, in other embodiments, the tubing annulus 25 of pipe segmenttubing 22 may include multiple (e.g., two, three, four, or more)reinforcement layers 34. In other words, in such embodiments, one ormore other reinforcement layers 34 may be disposed over the depictedreinforcement layer 34. In fact, in some such embodiments, thereinforcement strips 40 in the one or more other reinforcement layers 34may also each be helically disposed such that there are annular gaps(e.g., fluid conduits and/or free space) 24 between adjacent windings.

For example, a first other reinforcement strip 40 of a first otherreinforcement layer 34 may be helically disposed on the depictedreinforcement strip 40 using the same non-zero lay angle as the depictedreinforcement strip 40 to cover (e.g., enclose) the depicted annular gap24 and to define another annular gap 24 in the first other reinforcementlayer 34. Additionally, a second other reinforcement strip 40 of asecond other reinforcement layer 34 may be helically disposed on thefirst other reinforcement strip 40 using another non-zero lay angle,which is the inverse of the non-zero lay angle of the depictedreinforcement strip 40, to define another annular gap 24 in the secondother reinforcement layer 34. Furthermore, a third other reinforcementstrip 40 of a third other reinforcement layer 34 may be helicallydisposed on the second other reinforcement strip 40 using the samenon-zero lay angle as the second other reinforcement strip 40 to coverthe other annular gap 24 in the second other reinforcement layer 34 andto define another annular gap 24 in the third other reinforcement layer34. In some embodiments, an outer sheath layer 28 may be disposed overthe third other reinforcement layer 34 and, thus, cover (e.g., enclose)the other annular gap 24 in the third other reinforcement layer 34.

In any case, as described above, in some instances, a pipe segment 20may be deployed in an elevated pressure environment, for example,underwater in a subsea application. To facilitate improving the collapseand/or crush resistance of its tubing 22, a carcass layer may bedisposed within the internal pressure sheath layer 26 of the pipesegment 20. In other words, in such instances, the internal pressuresheath layer 26 may be disposed around the carcass layer and, thus, thecarcass layer may be the innermost layer of the pipe segment tubing 22.

To help illustrate, an example of pipe segment tubing 22 that includes acarcass layer 37 is shown in FIG. 4. To facilitate improving collapseand/or crush resistance, in some embodiments, the carcass layer 37 maybe made using metal, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, duplexstainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, or any combinationthereof. Additionally, as depicted, the carcass layer 37 is aninterlocked layer in the pipe segment tubing 22.

In addition to the carcass layer 37, as depicted, the pipe segmenttubing 22 includes an internal pressure sheath layer 26 and an outersheath layer 28. Furthermore, as depicted, the pipe segment tubing 22includes intermediate layers 38 disposed between the internal pressuresheath layer 26 and the outer sheath layer 28 and, thus, in the annulus25 of the pipe segment tubing 22. In particular, as depicted, theintermediate layers 38 includes at least a reinforcement layer 34 withone or more reinforcement strips 40 that define one or more annular gaps(e.g., fluid conduits and/or free space) 24 in the tubing annulus 25.

However, it should be appreciated that the depicted example is merelyintended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, asmentioned above, in some embodiments, the intermediate layers 38 of pipesegment tubing 22 may additionally or alternatively include one or moretape layers, one or more intermediate sheath layers, one or moreanti-wear layers, one or more insulation layers, or any combinationthereof. Additionally, as described above, in some embodiments, pipesegment tubing 22 may include multiple reinforcement layers 34, whicheach include one or more reinforcement strips 40. In any case, asdescribed above, in a pipeline system 10, the tubing 22 of a pipesegment 20 may generally be secured and sealed in a pipe fitting 18.

To help illustrate, a portion 42A of a pipeline system 10, whichincludes an example of a pipe fitting 18—namely a potted pipe fitting44A—and pipe segment tubing 22, is shown in FIG. 5. As in the depictedexample, a potted pipe fitting 44 may generally include a fittingconnector (e.g., flange) 46 and a fitting body 48, which defines afitting bore 49. In general, the fitting connector 46 of a pipe fitting18 may generally be used to secure the pipe fitting 18 to anotherpipeline component, such as a bore fluid source 12, a bore fluiddestination 14, or another pipe fitting 18. Additionally, as in thedepicted example, the fitting body 48 of a potted pipe fitting 44 maygenerally include a fitting collar 52, an inner fitting body 54, and anouter fitting body 56. The inner fitting body 54A may be disposedbetween the internal pressure sheath layer 26 and one or morereinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22 while the outerfitting body 56A may be disposed around the one or more reinforcementstrips 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22.

To facilitate sealing pipe segment tubing 22 therein, as in the depictedexample, a potted pipe fitting 44 may additionally include fitting seals50. In particular, as depicted, the potted pipe fitting 44A includes aninner seal ring 50A, which may be compressed between the fittingconnector 46A of the potted pipe fitting 44A, the inner fitting body 54Aof the potted pipe fitting 44A, and the internal pressure sheath layer26 of the pipe segment tubing 22. Additionally, as depicted, the pottedpipe fitting 44A includes an outer seal ring 50B, which may becompressed between the outer fitting body 56A, the fitting collar 52A,and the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing 22. In additionto an inner seal ring 50A and an outer seal ring 50B, as in the depictedexample, a potted pipe fitting 44 may include one or more face seals50C, such as a face seal 50C secured between its fitting connector 46and its outer fitting body 56, a face seal 50C secured between itsfitting connector 46 and its inner fitting body 54, and a face seal 50Csecured between its outer fitting body 56 and its fitting collar 52.

In some embodiments, one or more fitting seals 50 in a potted pipefitting 44 may be made using metal, such as carbon steel, stainlesssteel, duplex stainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, or anycombination thereof. However, in other embodiments, one or more fittingseals 50 in a potted pipe fitting 44 may be made using non-metallicmaterial, such as a polymer, rubber, and/or plastic.

In any case, as in the depicted example, in some embodiments, a pottingcavity 58 of a potted pipe fitting 44 in which one or more reinforcementstrips 40 are to be anchored may be defined when the outer fitting body56 of the potted pipe fitting 44 is disposed around the inner fittingbody 54 of the potted pipe fitting 44 and a portion 60 of the fittingconnector 46 of the potted pipe fitting 44. In other words, in suchembodiments, a first portion 62 of the potting cavity 58, which isfarther from the outer sheath layer 28 of corresponding pipe segmenttubing 22, may be defined between an inner surface 64 of the outerfitting body 56 and an outer surface 66 of the portion 60 of the fittingconnector 46 while a second portion 68 of the potting cavity 58, whichis closer to the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing 22,may be defined between the inner surface 64 of the outer fitting body 56and an outer surface 70 of the inner fitting body 54. In particular, inthe depicted example, the first portion 62A of the potting cavity 58A isdefined with a wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile while the secondportion 68A of the potting cavity 58A is defined with a different-shapedaxial cross-section profile.

However, it should be appreciated that the depicted example is merelyintended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, as will bedescribed in more detail below, in other embodiments, the outer fittingbody 56 of a potted pipe fitting 44 may overlap with the inner fittingbody 54 of the potted pipe fitting 44, but not the fitting connector 46of the potted pipe fitting 44, for example, to reduce the overall sizeof the potted pipe fitting 44 and/or to ease securement of the fittingconnector 46 to the inner fitting body 54. Additionally, althoughdepicted as tapering away from a corresponding inner fitting body 54, aswill be described in more detail below, in other embodiments, an innerseal ring 50A of a potted pipe fitting 44 may taper toward the innerfitting body 54. Furthermore, as will be described in more detail below,in other embodiments, a potting cavity 58 of a potted pipe fitting 44may have a continuous uniform axial cross-section profile, for example,to distribute forces more evenly across the potting cavity 58. Moreover,as will be described in more detail below, in some embodiments, a pottedpipe fitting 44 may additionally include a vent valve, which isimplemented and/or operated to enable fluid to be selectively ventedfrom free space (e.g., one or more annular gaps 24) defined within thetubing annulus 25 of a pipe segment 20.

In any case, as described above, a reinforcement strip 40 of pipesegment tubing 22 may be anchored in the potting cavity 58 of a pottedpipe fitting 44 via cured potting material, such as epoxy. To facilitateflowing fluid potting material into its potting cavity 58, as in thedepicted example, a potted pipe fitting 44 may include a pottingmaterial port 72, which is fluidly connected to the potting cavity 58.After curing, a solid mass of cured potting material may encase theportion of one or more reinforcement strips 40 present in the pottingcavity 58. In other words, the cured potting material may bond to (e.g.,grab onto) the portion of the one or more reinforcement strips 40present in the potting cavity 58, thereby facilitating anchoring of theone or more reinforcement strips 40 in the potting cavity 58 of thepotted pipe fitting 44 and, thus, securing the pipe segment tubing 22 inthe potted pipe fitting 44.

Additionally, as described above, a reinforcement strip 40 may generallyreinforce the tubing 22 of a pipe segment 20 when the reinforcementstrip 40 is disposed between the internal pressure sheath layer 26 andthe outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing 22 at a target layangle. However, as in the depicted example, to enable one or morereinforcement strips 40 of pipe segment tubing 22 to be anchored in thepotting cavity 58 of a potted pipe fitting 44, the outer sheath layer 28of the pipe segment tubing 22 may be cut back relative to the one ormore reinforcement strips 40. In other words, as in the depictedexample, this may result in a reinforcement strip 40 of the pipe segmenttubing 22 flaring away from the internal pressure sheath layer 26 and,thus, ceasing to reinforce the internal pressure sheath layer 26.

Accordingly, to facilitate reducing the likelihood of a weak pointdeveloping therein, a potted pipe fitting 44 may provide reinforcementto pipe segment tubing 22 starting at least at a point 73 where one ormore reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22 ceaseproviding reinforcement. In other words, to facilitate reinforcing pipesegment tubing 22, in some embodiments, the inner fitting body 54 of apotted pipe fitting 44 may be inserted at least up to a point 73 whereone or more reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22 beginto flare away from the internal pressure sheath layer 26 of the pipesegment tubing 22. In fact, in some such embodiments, the inner fittingbody 54 of a potted pipe fitting 44 may be partially inserted under anon-cutback portion of the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segmenttubing 22, for example, to further ensure that a gap is not presentbetween reinforcement provided by the one or more reinforcement strips40 and the reinforcement provided by the potted pipe fitting 44.

However, it should again be appreciated that the depicted example ismerely intended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, inother embodiments, a potted pipe fitting 18 may reinforce a portion ofthe internal pressure sheath layer 26 of a pipe segment 20 via a spacerring, which is secured around the internal pressure sheath layer 26between the inner fitting body 54 of the potted pipe fitting 44 and oneor more reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22. Morespecifically, in some such embodiments, using a separate spacer ring tosupport a portion of pipe segment tubing 22 may facilitate implementingcorrosion protection in the potted pipe fitting 44, for example, atleast in part by using the spacer ring to provide electrical continuityto the one or more reinforcement strips 40.

In any case, as in the depicted example, to facilitate securing theouter fitting body 56 of a potted pipe fitting 44 to the fittingconnector 46 of the potted pipe fitting 44 and securing the fittingcollar 52 of the potted pipe fitting 44 to the outer fitting body 56,the potted pipe fitting 44 may additionally include multiple threadedfasteners 74, such as bolts and/or screws. In particular, as in thedepicted example, first threaded fasteners 74A may be used to secure thefitting connector 46 to the outer fitting body 56. Additionally, as inthe depicted example, second threaded fasteners 74B may be used tosecure the fitting collar 52 to the outer fitting body 56.

However, it should again be appreciated that the depicted example ismerely intended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, inother embodiments, a fitting connector 46 of a potted pipe fitting 44may be secured to a corresponding outer fitting body 56 via a singlethreaded fastener 74 or more than two (e.g., three, four, or more)threaded fasteners 74. Additionally, in other embodiments, a fittingcollar 52 of a potted pipe fitting 44 may be secured to a correspondingouter fitting body 56 via a single threaded fastener 74 or more than two(e.g., three, four, or more) threaded fasteners 74.

In any case, as in the depicted example, in some embodiments, a pottedpipe fitting 44 may additionally include a carcass (e.g., insulator)ring 76, for example, which is implemented to facilitate anchoringand/or electrically isolating the carcass layer 37 of pipe segmenttubing 22 in the potted pipe fitting 44. To facilitate electricallyisolating the carcass layer 37, in some embodiments, the carcass ring 76of a potted pipe fitting 44 may be at least coated with or made from anelectrically insulative material, such as plastic. Additionally oralternatively, to facilitate anchoring the carcass layer 37 of pipesegment tubing 22 therein, the carcass ring 76 of a potted pipe fitting44 may be made from metal, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, duplexstainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, or any combinationthereof. To facilitate anchoring the carcass layer 37 of pipe segmenttubing 22 therein, the carcass ring 76 of a potted pipe fitting 44 maybe secured to the carcass layer 37. In particular, in some suchembodiments, the carcass ring 76 of a potted pipe fitting 44 may bethreaded and/or welded onto the outer surface of the carcass layer 37 ofa pipe segment 20.

Furthermore, to facilitate anchoring the carcass layer 37 of pipesegment tubing 22 therein, the carcass ring 76 of a potted pipe fitting44 may be secured (e.g., welded or bonded) to the rest of the pottedpipe fitting 44. In particular, as in the depicted example, in someembodiments, the carcass ring 76 may be secured to the fitting connector46 of the potted pipe fitting 44. In any case, to enable the carcassring 76 to be secured to pipe segment tubing 22, as in the depictedexample, the internal pressure sheath layer 26 of the pipe segmenttubing 22 may be cut back to expose a portion of the carcass layer 37 ofthe pipe segment tubing 22.

However, it should again be appreciated that the depicted example ismerely intended to be illustrative. In particular, in other embodiments,the carcass ring 76 of a potted pipe fitting 44 may be secured to thefitting body 48, for example, instead of the fitting connector 46.Alternatively, in other embodiments, a potted pipe fitting 44 may notinclude a carcass ring 76 and, thus, the internal pressure sheath layer26 of corresponding pipe segment tubing 22 may not be cut back relativeto its carcass layer 37. Additionally, although not depicted, in someembodiments, the fitting connector 46 of a potted pipe fitting 44 mayalso be secured to the inner fitting body 54 of the potted pipe fitting44 via one or more threaded fasteners 74. In fact, to facilitate easingsecurement of a fitting connector 46 of a potted pipe fitting 44 to acorresponding inner fitting body 54, in some embodiments, the outerfitting body 56 of the potted pipe fitting 44 may not overlap with thefitting connector 46.

To help illustrate, a portion 42B of a pipeline system 10, whichincludes another example of a potted pipe fitting 44B and pipe segmenttubing 22, is shown in FIG. 6. Similar to the potted pipe fitting 44A ofFIG. 5, the potted pipe fitting 44B of FIG. 6 generally includes afitting connector 46B, a fitting body 48B, threaded fasteners 74, andfitting seals 50—namely an inner seal ring 50A, an outer seal ring 50B,and one or more face seals 50C. In particular, similar to the fittingbody 48A of FIG. 5, as depicted in FIG. 6, the fitting body 48B includesa fitting collar 52B, an inner fitting body 54B, which is implemented tobe disposed between the internal pressure sheath layer 26 and one ormore reinforcement strips 40 of pipe segment tubing 22, and an outerfitting body 56B, which is implemented to be disposed around the one ormore reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22.

However, as depicted in FIG. 6, the outer fitting body 56B of the pottedpipe fitting 44B is implemented to overlap with the inner fitting body54B, but not the fitting connector 46B. In other words, in suchembodiments, the potting cavity 58 of a potted pipe fitting 44 may justbe defined between the inner surface 64 of its outer fitting body 56 andthe outer surface 70 of its inner fitting body 54. In particular, in thedepicted example, due to intermediate edges 71 on the inner surface 64of the outer fitting body 56B and the outer surface 70 of the innerfitting body 54B, the first portion 62B of the potting cavity 58B, whichis farther from the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing 22,is defined with a wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile while thesecond portion 68B of the potting cavity 58B, which is closer to theouter sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing 22, is defined with adifferent wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile. Moreover, asdepicted in FIG. 6, the potting cavity 58B does not overlap with thejunction between the inner fitting body 54B and the fitting connector46B, thereby avoiding the integrity of the potting cavity 58B beingdependent on the integrity of the junction between the inner fittingbody 54B and the fitting connector 46B.

Nevertheless, similar to FIG. 5, the fitting connector 46B of FIG. 6 issecured to the outer fitting body 56B via first threaded fasteners 74Aand the fitting collar 52B is secured to the outer fitting body 56B viasecond threaded fasteners 74B. However, as depicted in FIG. 6, thefitting connector 46B is additionally secured to the inner fitting body54B via a third one or more threaded fasteners 74C. In fact, as in thedepicted example, to facilitate easing securement of a fitting connector46 thereto, in some embodiments, a fastener opening in the inner fittingbody 54 of a potted pipe fitting 44 may include a lip (e.g., extension)78 that extends out radially toward the outer fitting body 56 of thepotted pipe fitting 44.

However, it should be appreciated that the depicted example is merelyintended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, in otherembodiments, the potted pipe fitting 44B may additionally include acarcass ring 76. Additionally or alternatively, in other embodiments,the inner fitting body 54 of a potted pipe fitting 44 may not include alip 78. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the fitting connector 46 of apotted pipe fitting 44 may be secured to a corresponding inner fittingbody 54 via a single threaded fastener 74 or more than two (e.g., three,four, or more) threaded fasteners 74.

In any case, as depicted in FIG. 6, the inner seal ring 50A of thepotted pipe fitting 50A tapers toward the inner fitting body 54B andaway from the fitting connector 46B, for example, instead of taperingaway from the inner fitting body 54B and toward the fitting connector46B. Additionally, as depicted in FIG. 6, the potted pipe fitting 44B isimplemented such that the reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segmenttubing 22 do not overlap with the inner seal ring 50A. In other words,in such embodiments, a potted pipe fitting 44 may be deployed withoutdisposing its inner seal ring 50A under reinforcement strips 40 of pipesegment tubing 22, thereby obviating having to bend the reinforcementstrips 40 out of the way, which, at least in some instances, maypotentially weaken the reinforcement strips 40.

Nevertheless, similar to FIG. 5, securing the fitting connector 46B ofFIG. 6 to the inner fitting body 54B may activate the inner seal ring50A at least in part by compressing the inner seal ring 50A between thefitting connector 46B, the inner fitting body 54B, and the internalpressure sheath layer 26 of the pipe segment tubing 22. Additionally,similar to FIG. 5, securing the fitting collar 52B to the outer fittingbody 56B may activate an outer seal ring 50B at least in part bycompressing the outer seal ring 50B between the fitting collar 52B, theouter fitting body 56B, and the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipesegment tubing 22. Furthermore, as described above, in some embodiments,the outer sheath layer 28 of pipe segment tubing 22 may be implementedusing plastic, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which may berelatively easy to deform.

Thus, as in the depicted example, to facilitate separating (e.g.,isolating) the sealing function provided by the outer seal ring 50B fromthe reinforcement function provided by one or more reinforcement strips40 of pipe segment tubing 22, in some embodiments, a reinforcementsleeve 80 may be inserted and secured between a (e.g., non-cutback)portion of the outer sheath layer 28 and a corresponding portion of theone or more reinforcement strips 40. In particular, in some suchembodiments, the reinforcement sleeve 80 may be made from material thathas a higher linear elasticity modulus (e.g., stiffness) than solidmaterial that is used to fabricate the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipesegment tubing 22. For example, while the outer sheath layer 28 is madeusing plastic, the reinforcement sleeve 80 may be implemented at leastin part using metal, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, duplexstainless steel, super duplex stainless steel, or any combinationthereof.

As described above, to facilitate reducing the likelihood of a weakpoint developing therein, a potted pipe fitting 44 may reinforce thetubing 22 of a pipe segment 20 starting at least at a point 73 where oneor more reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22 beginflaring away from the internal pressure sheath layer 26 of the pipesegment tubing 22, for example, via its inner fitting body 54 and/or aspacer ring. Since disposed between the outer sheath layer 28 and one ormore reinforcement strips 40 of pipe segment tubing 22, a reinforcementsleeve 80 may maintain the one or more reinforcement strips 40 at theirtarget lay angles, thereby enabling the portion of the one or morereinforcement strips 40 disposed under the reinforcement sleeve 80 tocontinue reinforcing the internal pressure sheath layer 26 of the pipesegment tubing 22. In other words, to facilitate reducing the likelihoodof a weak point developing therein, in some embodiments, a potted pipefitting 44 may reinforce the internal pressure sheath layer 26 ofcorresponding pipe segment tubing 22 at least up to the beginning of areinforcement sleeve 80 disposed between the outer sheath layer 28 andone or more reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22.

In any case, similar to FIG. 5, to enable fluid potting material to beflowed into its potting cavity 58B, the potted pipe fitting 44B of FIG.6 includes a potting material port 72, which is fluidly connected to thepotting cavity 58B. However, as in the depicted example, in someembodiments, a potted pipe fitting 44 may additionally include a ventvalve 82, which is fluidly connected to free space (e.g., one or moreannular gaps 24) defined within the annulus 25 of pipe segment tubing22. In particular, in the depicted example, the vent valve 82 is fluidlyconnected to the annulus 25 of the pipe segment tubing 22 via a firstopening 84 formed through the reinforcement sleeve 80, a second opening86 formed through the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing22, a first fluid path 88 formed in the outer fitting body 56B, and asecond fluid path 90 formed in the fitting collar 52B. In this manner,the vent valve 82 may be used to selectively vent fluid from within theannulus 25 of the pipe segment tubing 22.

However, it should again be appreciated that the depicted example ismerely intended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, inother embodiments, a potted pipe fitting 44 may not include a vent valve82 or include more than one (e.g., two, three, or more) vent valves 82.Additionally, in other embodiments, the inner seal ring 50A of a pottedpipe fitting 50 may taper away from its inner fitting body 54 and towardits fitting connector 46, for example, instead of tapered toward theinner fitting body 54 and away from the fitting connector 46 (e.g., toblock the ingress of fluid from a pipe bore 32 before the fluid reachesa corresponding face seal 50C). Furthermore, in other embodiments, areinforcement sleeve 80 may not be disposed between the outer sheathlayer 28 and one or more reinforcement strips 40 of pipe segment tubing22. Moreover, as mentioned above, in other embodiments, a potted pipefitting 44 may include a potting cavity 58 with a continuous uniformaxial cross-section profile, for example, to facilitate distributingforce more evenly across the potting cavity 58, which at least in someinstances, may improve anchoring strength provided by the potted pipefitting 44.

To help illustrate, a portion 42C of a pipeline system 10, whichincludes a further example of a potted pipe fitting 44C and pipe segmenttubing 22, is shown in FIG. 7. Similar to the potted pipe fitting 44B ofFIG. 6, as depicted in FIG. 7, the potted pipe fitting 44C of generallyincludes a fitting connector 46C, a fitting body 48C, threaded fasteners74, and fitting seals 50—namely an inner seal ring 50A, an outer sealring 50B, and one or more face seals 50C. In particular, similar to thefitting body 48B of FIG. 6, the fitting body 48C of FIG. 7 includes afitting collar 52C, an inner fitting body 54C, which is disposed betweenthe internal pressure sheath layer 26 and one or more reinforcementstrips 40 of pipe segment tubing 22, and an outer fitting body 56C,which is disposed around the one or more reinforcement strips 40 of thepipe segment tubing 22. In fact, in some embodiments, the fittingconnector 46C of FIG. 7, the fitting collar 52C, the fitting seals 50 ofFIG. 7, or any combination thereof may generally match the correspondingcomponents of FIG. 6.

However, as depicted in FIG. 7, the potted pipe fitting 44C may includea potting cavity 58C that has a continuous (e.g., single) uniformwedge-shaped axial cross-section profile, which, at least in someinstances, may facilitate improving the strength with which pipe segmenttubing 22 can be anchored in the potted pipe fitting 44C. In particular,when force tries to separate pipe segment tubing 22 from the potted pipefitting 44C after one or more reinforcement strips 40 of the pipesegment tubing 22 are anchored in the potting cavity 58C via curedpotting material, the wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile may causethe cured potting material to be compressed against the one or morereinforcement strips 40 and, thus, the cured potting material toincrease its grip strength on the one or more reinforcement strips 40.Moreover, the continuous uniform axial cross-section profile of thepotting cavity 58C may increase the anchor length within the potted pipefitting 44C and/or distributing force across the potting cavity 58C moreevenly, for example, due to the lack of intermediate edges 71 on theinner surface 64 of the outer fitting body 56C and the outer surface 70of the inner fitting body 54C reducing the occurrence of stressconcentration zones within the potting cavity 58C. In fact, at least insome instances, a continuous uniform axial cross-section profile mayenable substantially the whole length of a potting cavity 58 to beconcurrently used for anchoring, for example, instead of relying on asecond portion 68 of the potting cavity 58 after a failure occurs in afirst portion 62 of the potting cavity 58.

To facilitate implementing a potting cavity 58 that has a continuousuniform wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile in a potted pipefitting 44, as in the depicted example, the outer fitting body 56 of thepotted pipe fitting 44 may include a conical inner surface 64 while theinner fitting body 54 of the potted pipe fitting 44 includes a conicalouter surface 70. In particular, as in the depicted example, the conicalinner surface 64 of the outer fitting body 56 may be slanted at adifferent angle as compared to the conical outer surface 70 of the innerfitting body 54. For example, the conical inner surface 64 of the outerfitting body 56 may slant at a higher angle while the conical outersurface 70 of the inner fitting body 56 may slant at a lower angle,thereby defining the potting cavity 58 such that it tapers toward thefitting bore 49 of the potted pipe fitting 44.

In any case, similar to FIG. 6, to enable fluid potting material to beflowed into its potting cavity 58C, the potted pipe fitting 44C of FIG.7 includes a potting material port 72, which is fluidly connected to thepotting cavity 58C. Additionally, similar to FIG. 6, to facilitateseparating (e.g., isolating) the sealing function provided by the outerseal ring 50B of FIG. 7 from the reinforcement function provided by oneor more reinforcement strips 40 of pipe segment tubing 22, areinforcement sleeve 80 may be inserted and secured between a (e.g.,non-cutback) portion of the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segmenttubing 22 and a corresponding portion of the one or more reinforcementstrips 40. In fact, in some embodiments, the reinforcement sleeve 80 ofFIG. 7 may generally match the reinforcement sleeve of FIG. 6.

Furthermore, similar to FIG. 6, the potted pipe fitting 44C of FIG. 7may include a vent valve 82, which is implemented to be fluidlyconnected to free space (e.g., one or more annular gaps 24) definedwithin the annulus 25 of pipe segment tubing 22. In particular, in thedepicted example, the vent valve 82 is fluidly connected to the annulus25 of the pipe segment tubing 22 via a first opening 84 formed throughthe reinforcement sleeve 80, a second opening 86 formed through theouter sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing 22, a first fluid path88 formed in the outer fitting body 56C, and a second fluid path 90formed in the fitting collar 52C. In this manner, the vent valve 82 maybe used to selectively vent fluid from within the annulus of the pipesegment tubing 22. Moreover, similar to FIG. 6, the potting cavity 58Bof FIG. 8 does not overlap with the junction between the inner fittingbody 54C and the fitting connector 46C, thereby avoiding the integrityof the potting cavity 58C being dependent on the integrity of thejunction between the inner fitting body 54C and the fitting connector46C.

However, it should be appreciated that the depicted example is merelyintended to be illustrative and not limiting. In particular, in otherembodiments, the potted pipe fitting 44C may additionally include acarcass ring 76. Additionally or alternatively, in other embodiments, apotted pipe fitting 44 may include a potting cavity 58 that has adifferently-shaped continuous uniform axial cross-section profile.Furthermore, in other embodiments, the inner seal ring 50A of a pottedpipe fitting 50 may taper away from its inner fitting body 54 and towardits fitting connector 46, for example, instead of tapered toward theinner fitting body 54 and away from the fitting connector 46 (e.g., toblock the ingress of fluid from a pipe bore 32 before the fluid reachesa corresponding face seal 50C). In any case, in this manner, a pottedpipe fitting 44 may be implemented and/or deployed at pipe segmenttubing 22 to facilitate improving the reinforcement the potted pipefitting 44 provides to the pipe segment tubing 22, which, at least insome instances, may improve pipeline operational efficiency and/orpipeline operational reliability, for example, by reducing thelikelihood of fluid pressure within the pipe bore 32 of the pipe segment20 producing a breach within the potted pipe fitting 44.

To help further illustrate, an example of a process 92 for implementing(e.g., deploying) a potted pipe fitting 44 at pipe segment tubing 22 isdescribed in FIG. 8. Generally, the process 92 includes disposing afitting collar, an outer seal ring, and an outer fitting body aroundpipe segment tubing (process block 94), cutting back an outer sheathlayer of the pipe segment tubing (process block 96), and disposing aninner fitting body between an internal pressure sheath layer and areinforcement strip of the pipe segment tubing (process block 100).Additionally, the process 92 generally includes disposing an inner sealring around an exposed portion of the internal pressure sheath layer(process block 102), securing a fitting connector to the inner fittingbody (process block 104), and securing the outer fitting body to thefitting connector to define a potting cavity (process block 106).Furthermore, the process 92 generally includes securing the fittingcollar to the outer fitting body (process block 108) and implementingcured potting material within the potting cavity (process block 110).

Although specific process blocks are described in a specific order,which corresponds with an embodiment of the present disclosure, itshould be appreciated that the example process 92 is merely intended tobe illustrative and non-limiting. In particular, in other embodiments, aprocess 92 for implementing a potted pipe fitting 44 at pipe segmenttubing 22 may include one or more additional blocks and/or omit one ormore of the depicted blocks. For example, some embodiments of theprocess 92 may additionally include disposing a reinforcement sleevebetween the reinforcement strip and the outer sheath layer of the pipesegment tubing (process block 112) while other embodiments of theprocess 92 do not. As another example, some embodiments of the process92 may additionally include disposing a spacer ring between thereinforcement strip and the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipesegment tubing (process block 114) while other embodiments of theprocess do not. As a further example, some embodiments of the process 92may additionally include cutting back the internal pressure sheath layerof the pipe segment tubing (process block 116) while other embodimentsof the process do not. As another example, some embodiments of theprocess 92 may additionally include securing a carcass ring to a carcasslayer of the pipe segment tubing (process block 117) while otherembodiments of the process 92 do not. Furthermore, in other embodiments,one or more of the depicted blocks may be performed in a differentorder.

In any case, as described above, to facilitate sealing pipe segmenttubing 22 therein, a potted pipe fitting 44 may generally include anouter seal ring 50B. In particular, as described above, the outer sealring 50B may be compressed between an outer fitting body 56 of thepotted pipe fitting 44, a fitting collar 52 of the potted pipe fitting44, and the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing 22. Assuch, deploying a potted pipe fitting 44 at pipe segment tubing 22 mayinclude disposing (e.g., sliding) the fitting collar 52, the outer sealring 50B, and the outer fitting body 56 of the potted pipe fitting 44around the pipe segment tubing 22 (process block 94).

Additionally, as described above, in some embodiments, the outer fittingbody 56 of a potted pipe fitting 44 may include a conical inner surface64, for example, to implement a potting cavity 58 with a continuousuniform wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile (process block 118). Inparticular, as described above, a potting cavity 58 of a potted pipefitting 44 that is defined with a continuous uniform wedge-shaped axialcross-section profile may facilitate distributing force more evenlyacross the potting cavity 58, which, at least in some instances, mayimprove anchoring strength provided by the potted pipe fitting 44, forexample, due to the continuous uniform wedge-shaped axial cross-sectionprofile reducing the presence of stress concentration zones within thepotting cavity 58. Nevertheless, as described above, in otherembodiments, the outer fitting body 56 of a potted pipe fitting 44 mayhave a differently shaped inner surface 64, for example, that includesone or more intermediate edges 71.

In any case, as described above, to facilitate securing pipe segmenttubing 22 in a potted pipe fitting 44, a reinforcement strip 40 of thepipe segment tubing 22 may be anchored in the potting cavity 58 of thepotted pipe fitting 44. Furthermore, as described above, the outersheath layer 28 of pipe segment tubing 22 may be disposed around one ormore reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segment tubing 22. Thus, tofacilitate securing the pipe segment tubing 22 in the potted pipefitting 44, the outer sheath layer 28 of the pipe segment tubing 22 maybe cut back to expose a portion of one or more reinforcement strips 40of the pipe segment tubing 22 (process block 96). In some embodiments,to block exposed portions of reinforcement strips 40 from flaring outtoo far once the outer sheath layer 28 is cut back, a temporary sleevemay be disposed circumferentially around the exposed portions of thereinforcement strips 40. Moreover, as described above, in someembodiments, a reinforcement sleeve 80 may be disposed between aremaining (e.g. non-cutback) portion of the outer sheath layer 28 and acorresponding portion of the one or more reinforcement strips 40, forexample, to facilitate separating (e.g., isolating) the sealing functionprovided by the outer seal ring 50B from the reinforcement functionprovided by the one or more reinforcement strips 40 (process block 112).

Furthermore, as described above, to facilitate anchoring a reinforcementstrip 40 of pipe segment tubing 22 therein, a potted pipe fitting 44 mayinclude an inner fitting body 54, which is disposed between the internalpressure sheath layer 26 and one or more reinforcement strips 40 of thepipe segment tubing 22. As such, implementing a potted pipe fitting 44at pipe segment tubing 22 may include disposing the inner fitting body54 of the potted pipe fitting 44 between an exposed portion of theinternal pressure sheath layer 26 and one or more reinforcement strips40 of the pipe segment tubing 22 (process block 100). In particular, asdescribed above, in some embodiments, the inner fitting body 54 of apotted pipe fitting 44 may have a conical outer surface 70, for example,to provide a potting cavity 58 with a continuous uniform wedge-shapedaxial cross-section profile (process block 120). Nevertheless, asdescribed above, in other embodiments, the inner fitting body 54 of apotted pipe fitting 44 may have a differently shaped outer surface 70,for example, that includes one or more intermediate edges 71.

In any case, as described above, to facilitate reducing the likelihoodof a weak point developing therein, a potted pipe fitting 44 mayreinforce the tubing 22 of a pipe segment 20 starting at least at apoint 73 where one or more reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segment20 begin to flare away from the internal pressure sheath layer 26 of thepipe segment tubing 22. In particular, as described above, in someembodiments, a potted pipe fitting 44 may reinforce the internalpressure sheath layer 26 of pipe segment tubing 22 via its inner fittingbody 54. Thus, in such embodiments, disposing an inner fitting body 54between the internal pressure sheath layer 26 and one or morereinforcement strips 40 of pipe segment tubing 22 may include disposing(e.g., inserting) the inner fitting body 54 under the outer sheath layer28 of the pipe segment tubing 22 and/or under a reinforcement sleeve 80that is disposed between the outer sheath layer 28 and the one or morereinforcement strips 40 (process block 122).

However, as described above, in other embodiments, a potted pipe fitting44 may support the internal pressure sheath layer 26 of pipe segmenttubing 22 via a separate spacer ring, which is secured around theinternal pressure sheath layer 26 between the inner fitting body 54 ofthe potted pipe fitting 44 and one or more reinforcement strips 40 ofthe pipe segment tubing 22. In other words, in such embodiments,implementing a potted pipe fitting 44 at pipe segment tubing 22 mayinclude disposing a spacer ring between the internal pressure sheathlayer 26 and one or more reinforcement strips 40 of the pipe segmenttubing 22 and inserting the inner fitting body 54 of the potted pipefitting 44 behind the spacer ring (process block 114). In particular, asdescribed above, in some such embodiments, the spacer ring may be madeusing different material as compared to the inner fitting body 54, forexample, to enable the spacer ring to provide electrical continuity(e.g., and, thus, cathodic protection) to the one or more reinforcementstrips.

Additionally, as described above, to facilitate anchoring the carcasslayer 37 of pipe segment tubing 22 and/or electrically isolating thecarcass layer 37 in a potted pipe fitting 44, in some embodiments, acarcass ring 76 may be secured (e.g., welded or bonded) to the rest ofthe potted pipe fitting 44 and secured (e.g., welded and/or threaded) tothe carcass layer 37 (process block 117). Furthermore, as describedabove, the internal pressure sheath layer 26 of pipe segment tubing 22may be disposed around its carcass layer 37. Thus, to facilitatesecuring a carcass ring 76 to the carcass layer 37 of pipe segmenttubing 22, in some such embodiments, the internal pressure sheath layer26 of the pipe segment tubing 22 may be cut back to expose a portion ofthe carcass layer 37 (process block 116). Additionally or alternatively,an exposed end of the carcass layer 37 of pipe segment tubing 22 may bewelded to itself, for example, to reduce the likelihood of the carcasslayer 37 inadvertently unravelling (e.g., unwrapping).

In any case, as described above, to facilitate sealing pipe segmenttubing 22 therein, a potted pipe fitting 44 may additionally include aninner seal ring 50A. In particular, as described above, the inner sealring 50A may be compressed between the inner fitting body 54 of thepotted pipe fitting 44, a fitting connector 46 of the potted pipefitting 44, and the internal pressure sheath layer 26 of the pipesegment tubing 22. As such, implementing a potted pipe fitting 44 atpipe segment tubing 22 may include disposing (e.g., sliding) the innerseal ring 50A of the potted pipe fitting 44 around an exposed portion ofthe internal pressure sheath layer 26 of the pipe segment tubing 22(process block 102).

To facilitate securing a potted pipe fitting 44 to another pipelinecomponent (e.g., another potted pipe fitting 44, a bore fluid source 12,or a bore fluid destination 14) in addition to pipe segment tubing 22, afitting connector 46 may then be secured to the inner fitting body 54 ofthe potted pipe fitting 44 (process block 104). In particular, asdescribed above, in some embodiments, the fitting connector 46 may besecured to the inner fitting body 54 via one or more threaded fasteners74, such as a bolt or a screw. In fact, to ease securement of a fittingconnector 46 thereto via a threaded fastener 74, in some embodiments, afastener opening in the inner fitting body 54 of a potted pipe fitting44 may be implemented on a lip (e.g., extension) 78 that extends outtoward a corresponding outer fitting body 56 (process block 126).Additionally, as described above, in some embodiments, securing thefitting connector 46 to the inner fitting body 54 may compress the innerseal ring 50A of the potted pipe fitting 44 between the inner fittingbody 54, the fitting connector 46 of the potted pipe fitting 44, and theinternal pressure sheath layer 26 of the pipe segment tubing 22, therebyactivating the inner seal ring 50A (process block 124). To facilitatecompressing the inner seal ring 50A between the fitting connector 46 andthe inner fitting body 54, in some embodiments, the inner fitting body54 may be held in place with a special-purpose installation tool.Furthermore, as described above, in some embodiments, the inner sealring 50A of a potted pipe fitting 50 may tapers toward its inner fittingbody 54 and away from its fitting connector 46 while, in otherembodiments, the inner seal ring 50A may taper away from the innerfitting body 54 and toward the fitting connector 46.

The outer fitting body 56 of the potted pipe fitting 44 may then be slidover the exposed portion of the reinforcement strip 40 to define apotting cavity 58 in which one or more reinforcement strips 40 of pipesegment tubing 22 are to be anchored. In other words, since the innerfitting body 54 of the potted pipe fitting 44 is disposed between theinternal pressure sheath layer 26 and one or more reinforcement strips40 of the pipe segment tubing 22, the outer fitting body 56 may be slidaround the inner fitting body 54, thereby defining the potting cavity 58between the inner surface 64 of the outer fitting body 56 and the outersurface 70 of the inner fitting body 54, for example, in addition tobetween the inner surface 64 of the outer fitting body and the outersurface 66 of a portion 60 of the fitting connector 46. Additionally, asdescribed above, the outer fitting body 56 may have previously been slidaround the pipe segment tubing 22 and, thus, the outer fitting body 56may be disposed around the exposed portion of the reinforcement strip 40by sliding the outer fitting body 56 in an opposite direction.Furthermore, to facilitate maintaining the potting cavity 58, asdescribed above, in some embodiments, the outer fitting body 56 may besecured to the fitting connector 46 of the potted pipe fitting 44 viaone or more threaded fasteners 74, such as a bolt or a screw (processblock 106)

The fitting collar 52 of the potted pipe fitting 44 may then be securedto the outer fitting body 56 (process block 108). In particular, asdescribed above, in some embodiments, a fitting collar 52 may be securedto the outer fitting body 56 via one or more threaded fasteners 74, suchas a bolt or a screw. In fact, as described above, in some embodiments,securing the fitting collar 52 to the outer fitting body 56 may compressthe outer seal ring 50B of the potted pipe fitting 44 between thefitting collar 52, the outer fitting body 56, and the outer sheath layer28 of the pipe segment tubing 22, thereby activating the outer seal ring50B (process block 128).

In any case, to facilitate anchoring a reinforcement strip 40 of pipesegment tubing 22 in the potting cavity 58 of a potted pipe fitting 44,as described above, cured potting material may be implemented in thepotting cavity 58 (process block 110). In particular, to implement curedpotting material in the potting cavity 58, as described above, fluid(e.g., liquid) potting material, such as epoxy, may be flowed (e.g.,filled) into the potting cavity 58, for example, via a potting materialport 72 of the potted pipe fitting 44. After curing (e.g., hardeningand/or solidifying), a solid mass of cured potting material may encasethe portion of the one or more reinforcement strips 40 in the pottingcavity 58. More specifically, the cured potting material may bond to theportion of the one or more reinforcement strips 40 in the potting cavity58 and, thus, facilitate anchoring the one or more reinforcement strips40 in the potting cavity 58. In this manner, the present disclosureprovides techniques for implementing and/or deploying a potted pipefitting to facilitate improving the reinforcement the potted pipefitting provides to the tubing of a corresponding pipe segment, which,at least in some instances, may improve pipeline operational efficiencyand/or pipeline operational reliability, for example, by reducing thelikelihood of fluid pressure within the pipe bore of the pipe segmentproducing a breach within the pipe fitting.

While the present disclosure has been described with respect to alimited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefitof this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may bedevised which do not depart from the scope of the disclosure asdescribed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should belimited only by the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pipeline system comprising: a pipe segment,wherein the pipe segment comprises tubing having: an internal pressuresheath layer that defines a pipe bore; a reinforcement strip implementedaround the internal pressure sheath layer to define a fluid conduitwithin a tubing annulus of the pipe segment; and an outer sheath layerimplemented around the reinforcement strip; and a potted pipe fitting,wherein the potted pipe fitting comprises: an outer fitting bodydisposed around a portion of the reinforcement strip in the pipesegment; an inner fitting body disposed between the portion of thereinforcement strip and the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipesegment, wherein: the inner fitting body directly abuts the internalpressure sheath layer at least up to a point where the reinforcementstrip begins to flare away from the internal pressure sheath layer; anda potting cavity of the potted pipe fitting is defined at least betweenan inner surface of the outer fitting body and an outer surface of theinner fitting body; and cured potting material implemented around theportion of the reinforcement strip in the potting cavity to secure thepotted pipe fitting to the pipe segment.
 2. The pipeline system of claim1, wherein: the tubing of the pipe segment comprises a carcass layerimplemented within the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipesegment; and the potted pipe fitting comprises a carcass ring secured toan outer surface of the carcass layer of the pipe segment to facilitateanchoring the carcass layer in the potted pipe fitting, electricallyisolating the carcass layer in the potted pipe fitting, or both.
 3. Thepipeline system of claim 1, wherein the potted pipe fitting comprises: afitting connector secured to the outer fitting body and the innerfitting body of the potted pipe fitting, wherein the fitting connectoris configured to enable the potted pipe fitting to be connected toanother pipeline component in the pipeline system; an inner seal ringcompressed between the fitting connector, the inner fitting body, andthe internal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segment; a fitting collarsecured to the outer fitting body of the potted pipe fitting; and anouter seal ring compressed between the outer fitting body, the fittingcollar, and the outer sheath layer of the pipe segment.
 4. The pipelinesystem of claim 3, wherein the outer fitting body of the potted pipefitting does not overlap with the fitting connector of the potted pipefitting.
 5. The pipeline system of claim 1, wherein: the outer sheathlayer of the pipe segment is cutback to expose the portion of thereinforcement strip; and the inner fitting body of the potted pipefitting is partially disposed under a remaining portion of the outersheath layer of the pipe segment.
 6. The pipeline system of claim 1,comprising a reinforcement sleeve disposed between a remaining portionof the outer sheath layer of the pipe segment and a correspondingportion of the reinforcement strip of the pipe segment, wherein: theouter sheath layer of the pipe segment is cutback to expose the portionof the reinforcement strip; and the inner fitting body of the pottedpipe fitting is partially disposed under reinforcement sleeve.
 7. Thepipeline system of claim 6, wherein the potted pipe fitting comprises: afitting collar secured to the outer fitting body of the potted pipefitting; and a vent valve fluidly connected to the fluid conduit definedin the tubing annulus of the pipe segment via a first opening formedthrough the reinforcement sleeve, a second opening formed through theouter sheath layer of the pipe segment, a first fluid path formedthrough the outer fitting body of the potted pipe fitting, and a secondfluid path formed through the fitting collar of the potted pipe fitting.8. The pipeline system of claim 1, wherein: the outer fitting body ofthe potted pipe fitting comprises a conical inner surface; and the innerfitting body of the potted pipe fitting comprises a conical outersurface.
 9. The pipeline system of claim 1, wherein the potting cavityof the potted pipe fitting is defined with a continuous uniformwedge-shaped axial cross-section profile to improve anchoring strengthprovided by the potted pipe fitting.
 10. A method of implementing a pipefitting at pipe segment tubing, comprising: disposing an outer fittingbody of the pipe fitting around the pipe segment tubing; cutting back anouter sheath layer of the pipe segment tubing to expose a portion of areinforcement strip in the pipe segment tubing; inserting an innerfitting body of the pipe fitting between the portion of thereinforcement strip and an internal pressure sheath layer of the pipesegment tubing such that the inner fitting body directly abuts theinternal pressure sheath layer at least up to a point where thereinforcement strip begins to flare away from the internal pressuresheath layer; defining a potting cavity of the pipe fitting at least inpart by sliding the outer fitting body of the pipe fitting over theportion of the reinforcement strip in the pipe segment tubing and theinner fitting body of the pipe fitting; and disposing potting materialaround the portion of the reinforcement strip in the potting cavity ofthe pipe fitting to facilitate securing the pipe fitting to the pipesegment tubing.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein inserting the innerfitting body of the pipe fitting between the portion of thereinforcement strip and the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipesegment tubing comprises inserting the inner fitting body partiallyunder a remaining portion of the outer sheath layer of the pipe segmenttubing.
 12. The method of claim 10, comprising inserting a reinforcementsleeve between a remaining portion of the outer sheath layer of the pipesegment tubing and a corresponding portion of the reinforcement strip,wherein inserting the inner fitting body of the pipe fitting between theportion of the reinforcement strip and the internal pressure sheathlayer of the pipe segment tubing comprises inserting the inner fittingbody partially under the reinforcement sleeve.
 13. The method of claim12, comprising: disposing an outer seal ring and a fitting collar of thepipe fitting around the pipe segment tubing; securing the fitting collarto the outer fitting body of the pipe fitting to activate the outer sealring at least in part by compressing the outer seal ring between thefitting collar, the outer fitting body, and the outer sheath layer ofthe pipe segment tubing; disposing an inner seal ring around theinternal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segment tubing; securing afitting connector of the pipe fitting to the inner fitting body of thepipe fitting to activate the inner seal ring at least in part bycompressing the inner seal ring between the fitting connector, the innerfitting body, and the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segmenttubing; and securing the fitting connector of the pipe fitting to theouter fitting body.
 14. The method of claim 13, comprising: forming afirst opening through the reinforcement sleeve; forming a second openingthrough the outer sheath layer of the pipe segment tubing; forming afirst fluid path through the outer fitting body of the pipe fitting;forming a second fluid path through the fitting collar of the pipefitting; and fluidly coupling a vent valve to free space defined withinan annulus of the pipe segment tubing via the first opening formedthrough the reinforcement sleeve, the second opening formed through theouter sheath layer of the pipe segment tubing, the first fluid pathformed through the outer fitting body, and the second fluid path formedthrough the fitting collar.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein definingthe potting cavity of the pipe fitting comprises defining the pottingcavity with a continuous uniform wedge-shaped axial cross-sectionprofile to improve anchoring strength provided by the pipe fitting. 16.A pipe fitting comprising: an outer fitting body having a conical innersurface, wherein the outer fitting body is configured to be disposedaround an exposed portion of a reinforcement strip in pipe segmenttubing; an inner fitting body having a conical outer surface, whereinthe inner fitting body is configured to be disposed between the exposedportion of the reinforcement strip and an internal pressure sheath layerof the pipe segment tubing; and a fitting connector configured to enablethe pipe fitting to be connected to another pipeline component, whereinthe outer fitting body and the inner fitting body are configured to besecured to the fitting connector to define a potting cavity in which theexposed portion of the reinforcement strip is to be anchored between theconical inner surface of the outer fitting body and the conical outersurface of the inner fitting body such that the potting cavity has acontinuous uniform wedge-shaped axial cross-section profile.
 17. Thepipe fitting of claim 16, wherein the inner fitting body is configuredto directly abut the internal pressure sheath of the pipe segment tubingat least up to a point where the reinforcement strip of the pipe segmenttubing begins flaring away from the internal pressure sheath of the pipesegment tubing.
 18. The pipe fitting of claim 16, comprising a spacerring configured to be disposed between the inner fitting body of thepipe fitting and the exposed portion of the reinforcement strip in thepipe segment tubing such that the spacer ring directly abuts a portionof the internal pressure sheath layer of the pipe segment tubing. 19.The pipe fitting of claim 16, comprising a threaded fastener configuredto be used to secure the fitting connector to the inner fitting body,wherein the inner fitting body comprises a fastener opening formed on alip that extends out radially toward the outer fitting body.
 20. Thepipe fitting of claim 16, wherein comprising a potting material portformed through the outer fitting body of the pipe fitting to enablefluid potting material to be flowed into the potting cavity of the pipefitting.